111 Beginning French I
Students begin to learn French through listening, speaking, reading and writing about topics familiar to them. They study social and cultural notions inherent in the daily life of peoples in diverse Francophone communities and learn to think critically and make interdisciplinary connections and informed cross-cultural comparisons. Open to students with no prior background in French or placement into French 111. Offered each semester.
112 Beginning French II
Students expand their developing language skills by continuing to listen, speak, read and write on topics familiar to them. They continue their study of social and cultural notions inherent in the daily life of peoples in diverse Francophone communities and learn to think critically and make interdisciplinary connections and informed cross-cultural comparisons. Prerequisite: French 111 or placement. Offered each semester.
231 Intermediate French I
Through study, discussion and analysis of a wide variety of texts, students explore specific social and cultural topics relevant to French culture yesterday and today (e.g., stereotypes, the family, education, immigration) and develop and expand their ability to listen, speak, read and write in French while also learning specific listening and reading strategies. Explicit focus on cross- cultural comparison/contrast and analysis. Prerequisite: French 112 or placement. Offered each semester.
232 Intermediate French II
Students explore questions of identity in the wider Francophone world through reading, discussing and analyzing a wide variety of texts, including cultural documents, short biographical pieces, literary texts, and films. They consolidate their language skills and continue to develop their ability to analyze and communicate in French by engaging in interactive group activities, making oral presentations and writing essays. They also work to expand their vocabulary and to review the French verb system and other key grammatical structures. Prerequisite: French 231 or placement. Offered each semester.
235 French Language and Moroccan Culture in Fes
Students study French language and Moroccan culture in the imperial city of Fes. An immersion experience that includes home stays with local French-speaking families, the course focuses on Moroccan culture yesterday and today, emphasizing the multicultural aspects of Morocco and facilitating student interaction with the local population. Field trips to various sites in and around Fes, day-long visits to Meknès and Moulay Idriss, and a longer excursion to Marrakech and Casablanca. Review of second-year French grammar is integrated into the reading and discussion of texts pertaining to Morocco’s history and culture and their relation to present-day Morocco. Taught in French. Prerequisite: French 231 or placement in French 232. Offered during January Term. Open to first-year students.
250 Speaking (of) French
This course provides an on-campus immersion experience for students interested in improving their oral language proficiency. Students engage in small and large group discussion, give individual and group oral presentations, and review grammar and registers of language. They also explore the notions of communicative competence and oral proficiency in order to become more effective speakers. Taught in French. Prerequisite: French 232, 235, or equivalent. Offered during January Term. Counts toward film studies concentration.
251 Writing French
Students engage in intensive practice in various types of writing in French (e.g., summary, extended description, narration, and professional correspondence). Literary and non-literary texts provide topics and models. The course involves discussion, writing, and revising and stresses advanced grammar review. Taught in French. Prerequisite: French 232, 235, or equivalent.
253 Introduction to Literary Analysis
Students read a variety of French literary texts. The course focuses on aspects of literary analysis, terminology, methodology, and literary history. Students develop critical skills through discussion and analytical writing. Taught in French. Prerequisite: French 232, 235, or equivalent.
260 The Cultures of Franco-America
This course explores the long history of the French in North America and of Americans in France, focusing on how this history influenced ideas of race in America. Topics include 17th century encounters between French missionaries and indigenous populations, Francophone cultures of Louisiana, and the experiences of African American expatriates in France. Coursework includes readings, critical analysis, research methods, and substantive projects. Taught in English. Offered periodically. May count toward the French major (see instructor).
265 Memory Wars: Remembering and Forgetting in Post-World War II France
How do film, literature, and the law in France address the trauma of World War II and its aftermaths? What are the “memory wars” and how are they represented and negotiated? In this course, students read short theoretical texts on memory and trauma studies and think about how theories of memory and forgetting intersect on page and screen, as well as in policy and public opinion. Students workshop, write, and revise a series of short papers. Taught in English. Offered periodically. May count toward the French major (see instructor)..
Prerequisite: First Year Seminar or permission of instructor.
271 The Francophone World
Students explore French-speaking regions of the world outside France through the close reading, discussion, and analysis of literary and non-literary texts as well as other cultural artifacts. Readings, discussions, viewings, and written and oral assignments are organized around the exploration of specific topics or themes. May be repeated if geographical region is different. Taught in French. Prerequisite: minimum of one 250-level course (two recommended). Counts towards Africa & the Americas concentration.
272 Contemporary France
Students are introduced to contemporary French political, economic and social institutions and/or issues through close textual analysis of articles from the contemporary French press and other media (e.g., the World Wide Web, cinema). Students read, analyze, discuss and write in French on a wide variety of non-literary topics. Taught in French. Prerequisite: minimum of one 250-level course (two recommended).
273 Period Studies
Students explore a particular period or century through examination of selected literary and non-literary works within their socio-historical and cultural contexts. Coursework includes discussion, analysis and interpretation of representative works. Sample topics: “19th-Century French Literature,” “La Belle Epoque,” and “20th-Century French Literature.” May be repeated if period is different. Taught in French. Prerequisite: minimum of one 250-level course (two recommended).
275 Interdisciplinary French Studies in Paris (abroad)
Students delve into advanced language work and on-the-spot investigation of French culture, past and present, including theater, film, visual arts, the French court, and the medieval cathedral through background readings and visits to important monuments. Students read, discuss, see, and critique plays ranging from the classical to the contemporary. Taught in French. Prerequisite: One French 250-level course (two recommended). Offered during January Term.
372 Topics in Francophone Studies
Students explore a specified topic or theme in language, in literature or in culture/civilization, or in a combination of these, through close reading, discussion, analysis and interpretation of selected literary and/or non-literary works. Sample topics include “Madness and the Romantic Dream,” “Female Identity in Post-Colonial North Africa,” and “Global Francophone Identities.” May be repeated if topics are different. Taught in French. Prerequisite: minimum of one 270-level course.
373 Genre Studies
Students study a particular genre or medium (e.g., novel, play, poetry, short story, film) from a variety of periods and authors, with particular emphasis on form. Coursework includes close reading, discussion, in-depth analysis and interpretation of works. Sample topics: “The Short Story,” “Autobiography,” and “The African Novel.” May be repeated if genre is different. Taught in French. Prerequisite: minimum of one 270-level course.